Israeli leadership refusing to discuss independent Palestine

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel strongly rejects international pressure on the issue of permanent peace with the Palestinians and believes that a lasting solution can be achieved only in direct negotiations.

"Israel strongly rejects international pressure on the issue of a permanent settlement with the Palestinians," the PM said.

In his words, Israel continues to oppose unilateral recognition of the Palestinian state.

During a briefing, Eylon Levy, the spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel is focused on the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack and that it was “not the time” to discuss recognition of a Palestinian state.

“Now is not the time to be speaking about gifts for the Palestinian people at a time when the Palestinian Authority themselves have yet to even condemn the Oct. 7 massacre,” Levy said.

According to him, now is the time for total victory against Hamas.